Lesson Plan #3

Hope the kids enjoyed their homemade tortillas!!!


I introduced the kids to a pastry cutter. It was used when we combined our flour mix and shortening together. I let the kids know if they don't have a pastry cutter at home, they could use two knives to cut the ingredients together until they resemble course crumbs.

I taught the kids what kneading means and how to knead. From top to bottom, side to side and repeat.

This past week the kids learned how to use a rolling pin. They had a lot of fun rolling their tortillas out. The kids were able to use the Roulpat, which is a Silicon sheet used to roll doughs out etc. when they rolled their tortilla out. I let the kids know that their tortilla did not have to be a perfect circle, odd shapes gives them personality :)

I told the kids that they can make tortillas a bit healthier by using whole wheat flour and olive oil. I asked the kids to let the dough rest from 30-60 minutes.

Homemade Flour Tortilla Tips

Do not use bread flour. You want flour with a low gluten content. Do not overwork the tortilla dough. You don't want to over-flour your work surface, but you don't want your rolled-out tortilla sticking to it either.
A flat dough scraper, known in baking parlance as a bench knife, is very efficient in removing the rolled-out tortilla from the work surface. When rolling out tortillas, dust your rolling pin with flour, and don't be afraid to apply pressure. Flour tortilla dough is pretty sturdy; but not to the point of rerolling. You don't want tough tortillas.

Rolling out tortillas in perfect circles is harder than it sounds; the dough wants to draw up. So if perfectly circular shapes are important, you can trim away the excess with a sharp knife.

Once again, I believe a cast iron skillet or griddle is practically indispensable for making any kind of tortilla. A dry cast-iron utensil, unlike most other materials, can take high temperatures over a sustained period of time without being adversely affected, although you may have to do a reseasoning afterwards. I have a very well seasoned "comal" (which is a Cast Iron Skillet)that I love to use.

The kids agreed that its actually very easy to make flour tortillas, the hard part is rolling them out. :)

The kids were able to choose their ingredients of their choice for their quesadilla.